The Constitution Structure Basic Outline Preamble The statement

The Constitution: Structure

Basic Outline Preamble- ◦ The statement or purpose of the Constitution Seven articles or divisions ◦ Set up and governmental functions Twenty seven amendments or changes ◦ Bill of Rights – First 10 Amendments

Article I Legislative Branch ◦ Establishes a two house legislature ◦ The House of Representatives Qualifications 1) Must be at least 25 years old 2) Be a U. S. resident for 7 years 3) Live in the state they represent

Article I Legislative Branch ◦ Senate Qualifications 1) 30 years old 2) Citizen for 9 years 3) Live in the state that they represent What is the VP’s role? Tie breaker in the Senate Impeachment ◦ Procedures ◦ Powers- List what they can and cannot do (Congress) ◦ Powers denied to states

Article II Executive Department ◦ Establishes a presidency with a term of 4 years ◦ Qualifications 1) Be a natural born citizen 2) Be at least 35 3) Be a U. S. resident for 14 years.

Article II ◦ Oath ◦ Powers and Duties Military, treaties, etc. ◦ State of the Union ◦ What is the president’s salary and when was it last changed? 400, 000 in 1992

Article III Judicial Department ◦ Supreme court ◦ Congress has the power to create other courts ◦ Jurisdiction – a legal body that deals with and makes judgments on legal matters and, administers justice within a defined area of responsibility ◦ Treason – Serious acts of betrayal of one’s sovereign or nation.

Remaining Articles Article IV- Relations among the states ◦ Full faith and credit ◦ Extradition Article V- Amendment ◦ Spells out the way that the Constitution can be amended Article VI- National debt, oath, Supremacy Clause ◦ Supremacy Clause: Federal law trumps state law. Article VII- Ratification ◦ Declares that the Constitution would take effect after it was ratified by nine states.